Methods and apparatus for a distributed bonus scheme using simulated scatter reactions

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a distributed bonus scheme using simulated scatter reactions are disclosed. An example method of operating a gaming device in a gaming system includes receiving a trigger that initiates a first bonus decision in a first gaming device. Further, the example method includes calculating, using a programmed processor, an accumulated value that defines a range. Further, the example method includes generating a random number. Further, the example method includes, when the random number falls within the range, granting a bonus to the first gaming device. Further, the example method includes determining whether the first bonus decision is to initiate a second bonus decision in a second gaming device of the gaming system.

1. A method of operating a gaming device in a gaming system, comprising:
 receiving a trigger that initiates a first bonus decision in a first gaming device; 
 calculating, using a programmed processor, an accumulated value that defines a range; 
 generating a random number; 
 when the random number falls within the range, granting a bonus to the first gaming device; and 
 determining whether the first bonus decision is to initiate a second bonus decision in a second gaming device of the gaming system. 
 
     
     
       2. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein calculating the accumulated value comprises extracting one or more external parameters from the trigger. 
     
     
       3. A method as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the one or more external parameters include at least one of a kicker received from a system bonus manager, a number of gaming devices in play in the gaming system, a desired bonus level for the gaming system, an amount of bonuses paid during a period of time, or a dollar amount of bonuses paid during the period of time. 
     
     
       4. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein calculating the accumulated value comprises retrieving local parameters associated with the first gaming device. 
     
     
       5. A method as defined in  claim 4 , wherein the local parameters include at least one of a local time on the first gaming device, an amount of time a current player has played on the first gaming device, a location of the first gaming device, an amount of time that has passed since a previous win or bonus on the first gaming device, a current average speed of play on the first gaming device, a theoretical win for the first gaming device, a player club level associated with the player using the first gaming device, an amount of time since a previous casino visit of the player using the first gaming device, a kicker, or a denomination of a current wager on the first gaming device. 
     
     
       6. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein calculating the accumulated value comprises translating one or more external parameters extracted from the trigger and translating one or more local parameters associated with the first gaming device to generate values to be summed to form the accumulated value. 
     
     
       7. A method as defined in  claim 1 , wherein determining whether the first bonus decision is to initiate the second bonus decision in the second gaming device comprises determining which of a plurality of segments of the range the random number falls within, wherein each of the segments defines one or more characteristics of the bonus to be granted or denied. 
     
     
       8. A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the one or more characteristics include a size of the granted bonus. 
     
     
       9. A method as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the one or more characteristics include a number of scatter tokens to be generated by the bonus decision. 
     
     
       10. A method as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising, when the first bonus decision is to initiate the second bonus decision in the second gaming device of the gaming system, transmitting one or more scatter tokens to a system bonus manager associated with the gaming system. 
     
     
       11. A method as defined in  claim 10 , wherein a first one of the one more scatter tokens inherits local parameters associated with the first gaming device. 
     
     
       12. A gaming device of a gaming system, comprising:
 a receiver to receive a trigger that initiates a first bonus decision in a first gaming device; 
 an accumulator to calculate an accumulated value that defines a range; 
 a random number generator to generate a random number; and 
 a comparator to determine whether the random number falls within the range, wherein the first bonus decision results in a granted bonus when the random number falls within the range, and 
 wherein the comparator is to determine whether the first bonus decision is to initiate a second bonus decision in a second gaming device of the gaming system. 
 
     
     
       13. A gaming device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the accumulator is to calculate the accumulated value by using one or more external parameters extracted from the trigger. 
     
     
       14. A gaming device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the accumulator is to calculate the accumulated value by using one or more local parameters associated with the first gaming device. 
     
     
       15. A gaming device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the accumulator is to calculate the accumulated value by translating one or more external parameters extracted from the trigger and translating one or more local parameters associated with the first gaming device to generate values to be summed to form the accumulated value. 
     
     
       16. A gaming device as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the comparator is to determine whether the first bonus decision is to initiate the second bonus decision in the second gaming device by determining which of a plurality of segments of the range the random number falls within, wherein each of the segments defines one or more characteristics of the bonus to be granted or denied. 
     
     
       17. A gaming device as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the one or more characteristics include a size of the granted bonus. 
     
     
       18. A gaming device as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the one or more characteristics include a number of scatter tokens to be generated by the bonus decision. 
     
     
       19. A gaming device as defined in  claim 12 , further comprising a token transmitter to transmit one or more scatter tokens to a system bonus manager associated with the gaming system when the first bonus decision is to initiate the second bonus decision in the second gaming device of the gaming system. 
     
     
       20. A gaming device as defined in  claim 19 , wherein a first one of the one more scatter tokens inherits local parameters associated with the first gaming device. 
     
     
       21. A tangible machine readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to:
 receive a trigger that initiates a first bonus decision in a first gaming device; 
 calculate an accumulated value that defines a range; 
 generate a random number; 
 when the random number falls within the range, grant a bonus to the first gaming device; and 
 determine whether the first bonus decision is to initiate a second bonus decision in a second gaming device of the gaming system. 
 
     
     
       22. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 21  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to calculate the accumulated value by extracting one or more external parameters from the trigger. 
     
     
       23. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 21  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to calculate the accumulated value by retrieving local parameters associated with the first gaming device. 
     
     
       24. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 21  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to calculate the accumulated value by translating one or more external parameters extracted from the trigger and translating one or more local parameters associated with the first gaming device to generate values to be summed to form the accumulated value. 
     
     
       25. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 21  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to determine whether the first bonus decision is to initiate the second bonus decision in the second gaming device by determining which of a plurality of segments of the range the random number falls within, wherein each of the segments defines one or more characteristics of the bonus to be granted or denied. 
     
     
       26. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the one or more characteristics include a size of the granted bonus. 
     
     
       27. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 25 , wherein the one or more characteristics include a number of scatter tokens to be generated by the bonus decision. 
     
     
       28. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 21  having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to, when the first bonus decision is to initiate the second bonus decision in the second gaming device of the gaming system, transmit one or more scatter tokens to a system bonus manager associated with the gaming system. 
     
     
       29. A tangible machine readable medium as defined in  claim 28 , wherein a first one of the one more scatter tokens inherits local parameters associated with the first gaming device. 
     
     
       30. A gaming system, comprising:
 a first gaming device including a bonus module to receive a token configured to initiate a first bonus decision, the bonus module to compare an accumulated value comprising a sum of parameters to a random number to determine whether the first bonus decision results in a win or a loss, the bonus module to determine which of a plurality of segments of a range defined by the accumulated value the random number falls within, wherein each segment defines a number of scatter tokens to be generated by the first bonus decision; 
 a system bonus manager to receive one or more scatter tokens resulting from the first bonus decision on the first gaming device and to process the one or more scatter tokens; and 
 a second gaming device to receive a first one of the one or more scatter tokens from the system bonus manager, the first scatter token to initiate a second bonus decision on the second gaming device. 
 
     
     
       31. A gaming system as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the system bonus manger is to randomly select the second gaming device to receive the first scatter token. 
     
     
       32. A gaming system as defined in  claim 30 , wherein the system bonus manager can adjust the first scatter token before conveying the first token to the second gaming device to alter an overall bonus behaviour of the gaming system.